Dear LOSD Learning Community,

Last week Lake Oswego School District announced plans for our elementary schools’ return to in-person school to give our teachers, staff and families time to prepare for the safe transition to in-person school. We are aware that this news came as a surprise to some; I want to walk through our engagement process and key milestones that are informing our process.

Our objective all along has been to be forthcoming and transparent with developing information to engage all stakeholders in our decision making. Engagement has included ongoing feedback and information sharing through public school board meetings, meetings with our education associations, messages in newsletters, social media prompts, surveys, information sessions, and more. Following is an outline of key milestones since the start of this school year:

• In October our school board passed a resolution directing the superintendent to return students to in-person school safely as soon as allowed.

• During September and October, district and association leadership representing teachers, counselors and specialists met weekly to develop a new memorandum of agreement (MOA) for Hybrid Learning.

• On October 30, the state announced updated health metrics for K-12 schools; LOSD announced it was preparing plans to begin returning kindergarteners to in-person when allowed. 

• On Nov. 2, the LOEA association membership ratified the MOA, which included the agreement that teachers would return to in-person school when allowed by the state and for LOSD to give two weeks notice when we were allowed to begin returning to in-person school. 

• LOSD tabled kindergarteners return to in-person, based on state guidance, and committed to begin returning kindergarteners when allowed.

• On Dec. 23 the governor announced expectations for school districts to begin returning schools by mid-February. If the state sets new expectations, LOSD will heed that new guidance.

• On Jan. 4, in conversation with the LOEA president and OEA representative, per their request, LOSD notified our teachers, staff and families with specific return dates a month in advance. Several school districts in Oregon and Southwest Washington have also announced plans to return in January and February.

• Since Jan. 4, LOSD has advocated with the Governor and public health partners for expediting distribution of vaccines to school personnel.

• By Jan. 19, we anticipate updated health metrics guidance from Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and hope those plans have a vaccination schedule for our personnel.

• LOSD continues to be guided by Clackamas County Local Public Health.

We will continue to work with our education associations, ODE and local public health to assure a safe return to in-person school. Additionally, we are collaborating with our reopening workgroup, which is composed of parents, guardians, teachers, staff and students with different perspectives, experiences and qualifications, including two medical professionals. Information about our reopening plans can be found on our district website under Roadmap to Reopening.  

Keeping our learning community informed of thinking and plans as they develop is continues to be our priority. Thank you for your ongoing engagement and feedback. Just as we have been all along since last March, we are prepared to be nimble with planning and decision-making as we keep safety at the center.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lora de la Cruz, Superintendent, LOSD

Dear LOSD Elementary Families,

In preparation for returning our elementary students to in-person school, we will continue to share developments and information. In this message we are communicating how you may change your elementary student’s educational model.

Last summer LOSD developed two educational models: Hybrid and LO Online. In August, families chose their model and approximately 20 percent of LOSD elementary families selected LO Online. With the return to school, some families have expressed interest in changing their model. 

If you want to switch your elementary student’s educational model to either Hybrid or LO Online, please contact your elementary school’s front office with your change request by this Friday, Jan. 15 at 3 p.m. We need to finalize class rosters before elementary schools begin to return to in-person in February. Please note, changes will likely result in new teacher assignments to accommodate change requests.

Middle and high school students do not need to indicate a desired change in educational model at this time. When we have confirmed plans and timing for our secondary-levels’ return to in-person school we will accept change requests.

Sincerely,

Mary Kay Larson, Director of Communications

Dear LOSD Community,

Yesterday, many eyes were on the disturbing events at our nation's capital. We know that students of all ages will have seen images of violence and unrest. As parents and educators, we must not only make sense of this for ourselves, but also support our students in making sense of it as well. 

While I recognize that each family has their own way of addressing such events, our educators are additional trusted adults in the lives of our students, who they will likely look to for reassurance and explanation. The conversations that will surely arise from these events at school and home present an opportunity to remind our students that we can and must disagree without disrespecting, dismissing or harming others.

Our teachers and staff use many resources in guiding these discussions, and I am sharing a quick resource here that was updated today and may be helpful for home or school. 

I encourage our teachers, staff and families to check in with each other, create safe places for students to reflect and process, and ask for help if you need it. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Lora de la Cruz, Superintendent

Dear LOSD Families,

Yesterday we shared a preliminary message about the Governor’s expectations for returning students to schools. Today we are sharing timing information for families to plan for students to return to school. 

The Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority have found school transmission of Covid-19 remains low during in-person learning with proper measures in place, which is a contributing factor to state and local intentions to return students to school safely. Here in LOSD, we have successfully offered limited in-person instruction at all ten of our schools, emergency childcare at Palisades, and our charter school Harmony Academy, all without the transmission of Covid-19. We are optimistic that with safety at the center, we can begin a gradual and safe return to AM/PM Hybrid in-person school with the wellbeing of teachers, staff, students and families as our top priority. 

Today we are announcing the timing of our gradual transition to in-person instruction, starting with our elementary schools. Following is the elementary grade-level schedule, including teacher work days (no school for that grade level) and the first day of school for each grade level. 

Limited In-Person Instruction (LIPI) will continue for students whose grade-levels are remote. For example, when AM/PM Hybrid kindergarteners return to in-person school, LIPI will discontinue for that grade level but continue for all other grade levels.

We anticipate returning our middle and high schools to in-person instruction after elementary schools. We will have more details on those specific dates soon. Those in LO Online will remain remote for the school year.

Educators are in the Phase 1B group for receiving the Covid-19 vaccine. The exact timing is unknown, and will not factor into our transition to return to school. As such, for the foreseeable future, we will keep adhering to our AM/PM Hybrid in-person model and strict health and safety protocols proven to keep schools safe from transmission. Schools are set up with personal protective equipment, physical distancing, signage, hand cleaning stations, disinfecting practices, and air filtration systems. 

It was nearly a year ago -- more than 300 days -- when I asked our learning community for grace, patience and flexibility, and that appeal is as germane today. We will continue to provide more updates as more information is confirmed and as we near students’ start dates. 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Lora de la Cruz, Superintendent, LOSD

Dear LOSD Learning Community,

On December 23, Governor Kate Brown notified Director of the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) Colt Gill regarding a shift in the state’s stance on returning students to school. The letter expressed hope for schools to transition to in-person instruction by February 15. Additionally, beginning January 1, the health metrics for returning to in-person instruction (RSSL, Section 0) transitioned from mandatory requirements to advisory recommendations in the guidance. Districts are still to follow the Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance. The health and safety protocols, expectations for maintaining an operational blueprint, and all other guidance remains active and is required.

The Governor named three key dates in her letter that inform our planning process:

• Jan. 1: Effective January 1, Oregon’s Covid-19 health metrics for returning to in-person instruction became advisory rather than mandatory.
• Jan. 19: Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and ODE are to evaluate and provide any needed updates to the Covid-19 health metrics no later than January 19.
• Feb. 15: Governor’s hope is that more Oregon schools, especially elementary schools, will transition to in-person instruction by February 15.

The Governor’s announcement allows all school districts in Oregon, including LOSD, to move through a local process, with guidance from ODE and OHA, to determine its instructional model following Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance.

LOSD has had plans in place since summer, and is making final preparations for a gradual and safe return to AM/PM Hybrid in-person school with the wellbeing of teachers, staff, students and families as our top priority. We have an agreement in place with our teachers and staff, and we are working closely with our local public health authorities on the advisory metrics. We will be notifying teachers, staff and families on the timing of our return to in-person school soon.

LOSD has conducted training, prepared facilities, and garnered insights from providing beneficial and positive in-person experiences at our charter school Harmony Academy, LOSD emergency childcare, and all ten of our elementary, middle and high schools. All have followed strict health and safety protocols without the transmission of Covid-19.

Our school board supports a safe return to in-person school. Our teachers and staff have performed herculean feats with the barriers of remote teaching and learning, and we are grateful for their phenomenal work and families’ partnership. But, distance learning is not a suitable nor a sustainable educational model for most involved. Having children, teachers and staff safely in our classrooms provides the necessary structure, support and experiences for our learning community to thrive.

The plans to return to in-person school are being made with those who chose LOSD’s AM/PM Hybrid learning model. For teachers and students who chose to remain remote for the school year, LOSD is committed to continuing our LO Online learning model.  

LOSD is continuing to collaborate with our learning community. This month we are working with our reopening workgroup, composed of teachers, staff, students, parents and guardians, to help our learning community be and feel safe during this reopening process. Included will be hosting engagement forums to answer questions.

As always, we are committed to transparent and steadfast communication, collaboration and consideration. Our administration and school leaders will be working closely with our teachers, staff and families to finalize our reopening plans. I anticipate sharing more detailed information soon.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lora de la Cruz, Superintendent, LOSD

Dear LOSD Community,

Today’s email intends to share information about three important matters: 1) the metrics to determine when we can be in school, 2)  comparisons between the Fully Remote and LO Online models, and 3) NEW information about LO Online. 

This message is quite lengthy in order to convey information in response to many questions we have received, and to inform families in ways to support your decision-making. 

Health metrics informing the reopening of schools:

On Tuesday, July 29, Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced a set of health metrics to determine when school districts can safely reopen their buildings for in-person learning. Following that announcement, we made the difficult decision for LOSD to be in fully remote online learning for the first quarter. 

The metrics (figure 1.1) are determined by considering the case rate and test positivity rate of COVID-19 in each county as well as statewide. In order for LOSD to reopen, the case rate in the tri-county needs to be at-or-below 10 per 100,000 population for three consecutive weeks. And our test positivity needs to be at or below 5% for three consecutive weeks. The state must also be at test positivity rate at-or-below 5% for three consecutive weeks. In LOSD, we are also linked to Multmomah and Washington Counties because we have a significant number of staff and students who live in those counties. 

For perspective, our average over the last three weeks in the Tri-County area was 48 cases out of 100,000. (figure 1.2)

The Tri-County area does not currently meet the health metrics for safely reopening schools for in-person learning. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and our local Clackamas County Public Health Department (CCPHD) will be diligently tracking and monitoring these rates and percentages and keeping the public as well as school districts informed of the status for their county.

Students in Grades K-3 and students in groups that have been historically underrepresented: 

Per the Oregon Department of Education metrics guidance, we will be planning for how to bring our students in grades K-3 and limited on-site interventions for students with IEPs and students in groups that have been historically underrepresented into buildings when we meet the allowable exceptions per the guidance, which may be before November. The metrics that must be met for this include being at-or-below 30 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population and test positivity of less than 5% in the preceding 7 days for the past 3 weeks.

figure 1.1

figure 1.2

Fully Remote (Hybrid) and LO Online comparisons:

The virtual teaching and learning experience (Fully Remote model) will be much different than what students experienced in the spring. We have learned what worked well and what needed improvement, and have spent time identifying ways to make online learning a more robust and more successful experience with students. There will be daily school schedules and routines; multiple synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities each day; teacher and peer interactions; feedback, assessments and letter grades. Instruction will be teacher-led and teacher-guided, with LOSD teachers and curriculum. 

Change in LO Online: In order to take a needs-based approach for our community, and to be able to have adequate staff available for when we bring students back into school buildings, we need to modify how we plan for stability in both LO Online and in-person school. Because we now have over 800 students enrolled in LO Online, we need to staff it differently than anticipated for both online and in-person. In order to serve our families, we must have firm, year-long information to place 35-40 teachers for LO Online. In order to meet these needs, we now need to ask families to make a 1-year commitment to LO Online. 

Given the new information, we are asking all families to resubmit their registration acknowledging the 1-year commitment to the LO Online program. Please use this link to complete your registration. 

Fully Remote and LO Online:

You will find linked here comparisons between the Fully Remote (Hybrid) and LO Online models. We have attempted to answer all of the questions we have received in one document. For your convenience, we have also added the entire document below. 

Information sessions: Information sessions are being scheduled for next week, to be held virtually on August 5 at 5:00 pm and August 6 at 11:00 am. These will also be recorded for access later as needed. We will be sharing more details about daily schedules soon. 

We know that schools are critical to the lives of children in many ways, and that virtual school cannot replicate in-person school. We are working hard to create school experiences that are robust, consistent and comprehensive. We are here to help in any ways that we can during this very challenging time. Thank you for your support.

Dear LOSD Community,

Thank you for your patience as we have developed plans, with rapidly changing information. With the health and safety of our students, teachers and staff as our top priority, LOSD has reached a decision that will affect all our families. We have studied the metrics that were released by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) yesterday and have consulted with Clackamas County Public Health. Consistent with the metrics, we have made the difficult decision to remain in Fully Remote Virtual learning through the first quarter, which ends on October 30. We’re providing these dates now so that parents can make any necessary work or child care arrangements. 

Throughout the first quarter, we will monitor public health indicators and metrics to determine next steps, and will continue to keep you informed as we plan for the second quarter, which begins on November 2. Additionally, per the updated ODE and OHA guidance, when our region meets the metrics for approved exceptions, we will consider how to prioritize K-3 students and some limited on-site instruction for student groups that have been historically underserved, which may occur before November 2 if our metrics support this. 

Along with school leaders, we will be deeply involved in preparing for opening the school year in the fully remote model, and will be sharing information soon about details for such things as virtual Kindergarten information sessions and meet-and-greets for students and teachers. 

I know this news is deeply disappointing for all of us. Making this decision weighs heavy on my mind and heart, as I know that we share in the desire for students, teachers and staff to be in school. I am hopeful that COVID-19 will be contained in our community, region and state so that we can get back to school in the way we all want to be. Thank you for your continued patience and support.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lora de la Cruz, Superintendent, LOSD

Dear LOSD Community,

Although we all wish that we were planning for a full return to school, due to continued concerning public health indicators in our region, we must make plans otherwise. As such, the LOSD Roadmap to Reopening framework was approved at the School Board meeting last night. You can click here to listen to the discussion, or keep reading for a summary of what was discussed and deciding for the 2020-2021 school year. 

The Elementary Hybrid and LO Online models were approved. Please visit the Roadmap to Reopening page on the losdschools.org for more information.  In particular, visit the FAQ with more than 50 answers to our questions.

Hybrid Model: The Hybrid model is an AM/PM model. It was determined by a coin flip at the board meeting that K-8 students with last names beginning with A-K will attend the AM portion of the day and students with last names starting with L-Z will attend the PM portion of the day. Schools will provide flexibilities for families on an as-needed basis, but need to maintain the structure overall of this system in order to be able to plan and organize. Student Services will work with families of students with IEPs to determine the best placements based on student needs. 

Extended School Day Option: When students are in the Hybrid model, LOSD plans to provide a safe place at school for elementary students to do their online school work through an extended school day option. LOSD plans to provide supervision at school for students during transition and online class time. Enabling students to remain at their school eliminates transportation and exposure concerns, and provides some relief for working families. 

This extended school day option will be offered during elementary school hours, 8 a.m to 3:30 p.m.  If a student has in-person instruction with their teacher in the morning, they will arrive at 8 a.m., and at the end of their morning session, transition to the gymnasium or library for lunch, recess and online class, then leave for home at 3:30 p.m. The other group of students will arrive at 8 a.m. for their online classes, lunch and recess during transition time, before going to class for the afternoon. Students will be able to ride the morning bus to school and the afternoon bus to home, although we continue to highly encourage families to provide transportation whenever possible. LOSD will soon have more information, including a sliding fee to provide access to those who need this service and registration.

Beginning Fully Remote/Virtual: LOSD will begin the school year on September 8, fully remote in virtual learning for at least the first two weeks of school. LOSD will utilize the metrics that were released today by the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority to determine when we can return to in-person learning. Per the guidance, when our region meets the metrics for exceptions, we will consider how to prioritize K-3 students and limited on-site instruction for some vulnerable learners. We will be communicating more about the timeline tomorrow. 

LO Online: We still need families to make a decision on enrolling in LO Online by Aug. 7. When we are able to start the Hybrid model, students enrolled in LO Online will continue with their online teachers. Please click here to complete the sign up form.  Complete one form per student. LOSD students do not need to sign up for the Hybrid model. 

Now that the framework has been approved, LOSD administrators, teachers and staff need full focus on developing the details for each program, including determining what classes will be onsite and what ones will be online, students’ schedules, and cohorts.  This information will be available the week of Aug. 24. The ability to open our schools is directly correlated with COVID19 cases in our region and we will watch metrics closely. 

For additional childcare options please visit the Community Childcare Information section of our website.

Dear LOSD Community,

This week, we shared with you the proposed framework in development for the 2020-2021 school year, composed of two models: Hybrid K-12 and LO Online K-12. While we continue to develop these models, we must be prepared to adjust plans based on new information and guidance from public health authorities and the Oregon Department of Education.

Per the CDC, scientific studies suggest that COVID-19 transmission among children in schools may be low and international studies that have assessed how readily COVID-19 spreads in schools also reveal low rates of transmission when community transmission is low. It’s an important reminder that the community's actions (wear mask, wash hands, watch distance) directly impact our schools. As such, we are watching the Clackamas County and tri-county data carefully.

The Oregon Department of Education has shared that in the coming weeks it will release a set of guideposts, protocols, and public health indicators that will help determine the best instructional model for a given zip code or county. We anticipate receiving metrics indicating that school districts in Clackamas County may need to be fully remote until public health indicators improve. 

In anticipation of this information, at the School Board meeting this coming Monday, July 27 at 8 a.m., we will be discussing the possibility of extending our Fully Remote teaching and learning longer than the first two weeks of school.  We want you to be aware of this possibility so that families can start making arrangements for all students attending school online for potentially longer than two weeks.

For our fully remote start to the school year, whether it be for two weeks or longer, LOSD is exploring the possibility of having onsite interventions and support for students with 504s and Individualized Education Plans, Emerging Bilingual students, and students experiencing housing instability. 

We still need families to make a decision on enrolling in LO Online by Aug. 7. When we are able to start the Hybrid model, students enrolled in LO Online will continue attending school online with their online teachers.

We assure you that in our planning process we are considering the impact on families if students remain at home. None of these models offers an ideal response to this complex situation, but our decisions will be grounded in the care and safety of our students, staff, and community.

Dear LOSD Community,

The final framework for reopening LOSD schools was presented at the School Board meeting last night.  You can click here to listen to the 2.5 hour discussion, or keep reading for a summary of what was approved, and what is up for approval at the board meeting next Monday, July 27 at 8 a.m. Also, there is a survey at the bottom of this message.

Arriving at the final framework was an iterative process developed by education professionals and informed by extensive feedback from students, parents, teachers and staff through surveys, focus groups and meetings. The elementary plan was changed to the Hybrid model in order to be more developmentally appropriate, to reduce class sizes for all programs and to allow inclusive intervention and Student Services practices, and to ensure LOSD has staff to substitute if necessary. With the new elementary plan, fifth graders will be at their neighborhood school, freeing up Palisades and Uplands to provide childcare for teachers whose students may be on a different district schedule and to provide extended care for working parents.

The final framework is endorsed by our teachers in the Lake Oswego Education Association for being centered on safety for teachers, staff and students and developmentally appropriate for all ages.

Start of School

Students, teachers and staff will start school on Monday, September 8, 2020, virtually.  The week prior, all students will have the opportunity to meet in person with their teacher to get to know each other, take a few assessments to see where students are educationally starting the year, and to pick up school-issued devices with all of the necessary applications and a tutorial. If students still have their devices from last year, they will need to bring them to the meeting to set up their Google Classroom for the new school year. Prior to meeting with students, teachers and staff will be in training sessions to prepare for the new year.

The first two weeks of school (September 8-18) all students, teachers and staff will be attending school virtually. Students with 504s and Individualized Education Plans, as well as students who are developing English learners, may have interventions in person if the state permits schools to be open. Starting school remotely is to prepare everyone for the year to come while we continue to monitor health indicators. Depending on what the Governor, the Department of Oregon Education and public health authorities mandate, we may be doing school remotely for longer or at various times in the year.

Fully remote will be much different than the distance learning experience in the spring. Fully remote will be structured; elementary students will follow a predictable schedule and middle and high school students will follow their bell schedule. That means if the first class of the day starts at 8:05 a.m., students will be expected to join their Zoom class at that time. Attendance will be taken, and the teacher will provide live instruction and interaction with the class.  Assessments and letter grades will be given. LOSD has upgraded the technology platform with Zoom and an enhanced Google Classroom learning management system, as well as a single sign-on for easy access.

K-12 Hybrid or LO Online

The two choices are Hybrid K-12 (in person and fully remote) and LO Online (all fully remote).  With Hybrid K-12, students have daily live instruction, with half the day in person at school and half the day online from home or extended care. Half of the students will be at school in the morning, and the other half will be in school in the afternoon to reduce all in-person cohorts to 15 or fewer students. Alternatively, when not at school, students will follow the Fully Remote experience described above. Students enrolled in LOSD do not need to register for Hybrid K-12.

Web cameras with recording capabilities will be available in classrooms so that students may follow along if they need to be home for a period of time. Cameras are only for observation; students will not be able to interact with their classmates or teacher, which is why this is only for short term use.

LO Online K-12 is intended for students who will not return to school in person. Current LOSD licensed teachers will be selected through an application process based on student enrollment. LO Online is for students enrolled in LOSD. Students will need to sign up for enrollment in LO Online, and are asked to commit for at least a quarter/trimester at a time. Sign ups for LO Online will open later this week and are due by Aug. 7; info sessions will be scheduled Aug. 4-5 to answer any lingering questions.

In both choices, students will be taught by LOSD teachers with LOSD curriculum. Students will have access to LOSD core, elective and AP classes. Instruction will be both live, synchronous and recorded, asynchronous. Attendance will be taken and students will take assessments and receive letter grades. Students will have access to interventions, Student Services, school-issued devices and packaged meals for pickup. The only difference is in the Hybrid model, students may be in-person at school for part of their day and in LO Online program, students are taking all classes online.

Cleaning and Health Protocols

LOSD cleaning protocols, health screening, and Covid-19 case or outbreak response plan were discussed in detail at the School Board meeting. Health screening will be a four-step process: 1) parents take temperature and keep students at home if ill; 2) bus drivers do visual screening and notify school of concerns; 3) greeters at the entrance of school do visual screening; and 4) classroom teachers do a visual screening and notify the office. To protect privacy, students will be asked discretely to the office and into the health room. Please click here for more details on all of the protocols and plans. 

Next Steps

Starting school on September 8 virtually and the middle and high school hybrid model have been approved by the School Board. The new elementary hybrid model and LO Online model were discussed, and will be up for approval at the next school board meeting on Monday, July 27, at 8 a.m.

Once approved, each school level (elementary, middle and high schools) will develop the details of their schedule, including determining what classes will be taught in person and what ones will be taugher online, organizing cohorts and creating class schedules. Per usual, student schedules will be available at the end of August. Additionally, each school will develop details of their site-specific plans.

We need to gauge your intentions for LO Online, bus transportation, and extended care. Please click here to take a quick survey. Responses are due by Friday, July 24 at 5 p.m. Thank you in advance for sharing your intentions to further guide our planning.

Congratulations on making it to the end of this long message! We have a lot of complex and important information to address as we make plans to welcome students, teachers and staff back to school safely this school year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lora de la Cruz, Superintendent, LOSD

Dear LOSD Families,

Today I am sharing the LOSD Roadmap to Reopening framework for your review and input in the survey below. 

The framework was presented at last night’s School Board work session; it was a comprehensive discussion about the complexities of reopening schools safely and ensuring the best teaching and learning experience possible under required public health and Oregon Department of Education guidance. You may watch a recording of the meeting by clicking here, or visit the LOSD Roadmap to Reopening homepage to review the presentation. 

Whichever scenario is pursued, the highest priority for LOSD is the health and well-being of our teachers, staff and students. Our plans and decisions are relying on the latest public health and Oregon Department of Education guidance as we prepare to reopen schools. It is important to understand that we will only reopen school buildings if public health experts say it is safe to do so. If we are not able to safely open school buildings, all teaching and learning for every student will take place virtually/online until it is safe to return to school in-person. 

Following is a digest version of the four scenarios in the framework.

In-person Elementary School

We are fortunate to have two, essentially vacant elementary schools that allow us to have all elementary students in school in small, stable cohorts. Studies show that the early learning years are critical in the educational experience and pave the way for future academic success. 

• Students in school every day with stable cohorts

• Limited specials brought to the classroom

• Recess and PE outside of the classroom, with cohort

• Student Services provided using “pull out” model

• Packaged meals brought to the classroom

• K-4 grade students in their neighborhood elementary schools

• Hallinan, River Grove and Westridge 5th graders attend Palisades

• Forest Hills, Lake Grove, and Oak Creek 5th graders attend Uplands

Blended Middle and High School

Based on feedback from the originally proposed alternating schedule, LOSD went back to the drawing board, working closely with teacher and staff association leadership and school principals, to develop a new blended schedule for middle and high school students.

• Students take four, 80-minute periods a day, two in-person and two online classes with  live, synchronous instruction

• Total of eight periods, full instructional time, for the year

• Each quarter of a class equals one semester at the high school level. This will be different at the middle school level with their trimesters and how they will organize and rotate classes.

• In-person students organized in cohorts of 20 or fewer students

• Teachers in person with approximately 80 students per quarter

• Exploring supervision options for students under 12 years of age

• Packaged meals pick up during transition

• High schools will probably still organize by grade cohorts, and MS will be reviewing best cohort groups this week. 

LOSD Online Academy

Those who choose to stay online for the foreseeable future may enroll in LOSD Online Academy for students in grades k-12. We will be hosting information sessions and opening up registration the week of July 20. Registration will close Friday, Aug. 7.

• Free to all K-12 students who choose to enroll

• Asked to commit to Online Academy for at least a semester at a time 

• Offer core, elective and AP classes

• Partnering with an online program for structure, curriculum and training

• Enrollment will open week of July 20 and close Friday, August 7

• LOSD teachers and staff may apply for the Online Academy

• Student services will be provided

• Packaged meals will be available for pick up

Fully Remote

For those who choose in-person school, if LOSD needs to move to virtual school, we are developing the fully remote scenario. The fully remote experience will be different than what was offered last spring. The expectations for fully remote, which follow ODE guidance, are as follows:

• Structured day, following a bell schedule 

• Live, synchronous instruction

• Gradual Release of Responsibility model

• Attendance taken using new system being developed by ESD

• Assessments and letter grades

• Student Services provided

• School-issued devices for all with consistent platforms

• Packaged meals will be available for pick up

• LOSD teachers and staff may apply for Online Academy

Fully Open

LOSD will fully open when the Governor, ODE and public health authorities give permission to open at full capacity. We anticipate being fully open after a vaccine and/or successful treatment for COVID-19 has been developed and is readily available and used.  We will have more plans when we get closer to these conditions.

Please click here to share your feedback on the scenario(s) that apply to you. Your response is needed by Friday, July 17 at 10 a.m.  We will share feedback from the survey and focus group sessions and ask the School Board to approve the framework on Monday, July 20. Approval is needed post haste so that we can develop and operationalize the detailed plans that must still be developed for each school to welcome teachers, staff and students back to school.

The single most important thing we can do to keep our schools safe is how well we control the coronavirus throughout the community and region by adhering to the three W’s: wear a mask, wash your hands, watch your distance. Thank you in advance for doing your part to keep each other safe so that we reopen schools this fall.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lora de la Cruz, Superintendent, LOSD

Dear LOSD Staff,

The Lake Oswego school board of directors approved an anti-racism resolution condemning racism and committing to being an anti-racist district. This anti-racism resolution furthers LOSD’s work in diversity, equity and inclusion by emphasizing the work of intentionally eradicating systemic racism in our instruction and institution, to cultivate a community of belonging. A resolution is more than words. It affirms values, prioritizes resources and creates accountability. 

In June 2019, the school board approved LOSD’s Equity Policy, setting the stage to further our work in educational equity. The anti-racist resolution signals actions that the work of anti-racism action will be a greater focus for LOSD moving forward.

As educators, providing an environment in which students learn to understand themselves, eachother, and the world around them is among the most important work we can undertake. I look forward to partnering with you all as we intentionally work to build a culture of belonging and anti-racism into the fabric of our district. We wanted to share this news with staff first, and will be sharing it with our community in a separate email. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Lora de la Cruz, Superintendent, LOSD

Dear LOSD Community,

We have significant starting points in order for LOSD students and staff to return to school next year. It is important for us all to know and understand that school will not be the same as it has been in the past. Students will be spending the vast majority of their time in school with their cohorts inside their classroom and most instruction will be brought to them. 

Complex ODE guidance and significant budget constraints require us to make difficult decisions, almost all of which involve trade-offs. None of it is ideal, but we are committed to being flexible, creative and responsive to ensure each student and staff member safely experience the best education possible in the circumstances created by the pandemic.

Reduced Budget

Because of the pandemic’s severe and immediate impact on the economy and state revenues, at this time, LOSD has had to cut $5.1 million out of our budget for the next school year. Every decision we make has to be cost neutral from that $5.1 million reduction. Because of significant changes that will need to be made to adhere to public health measures alongside this budget reality, many LOSD staff may be asked to take on different assignments and roles within their qualifications to meet our students’ needs. For example, we will use current office staff and administrators to serve Palisades and Uplands, should that be our ultimate decision. Click here for more information about the budget impacts to LOSD.

ODE Guidance

The word guidance can be misleading. ODE guidance includes requirements, which are not optional, and recommendations, which are best practices. In order to receive funding and to be responsible by law, LOSD must follow the state guidance for public schools to reopen this fall. Click here to read the current ODE guidance. Some of the most significant and challenging guidance includes:

ODE guidance states each person in a space needs to have a minimum area of 35 square feet assigned to them and strive to be at least six feet apart. This requirement is determining class sizes next year, which will be greatly reduced from our 25-29 student average to 15-20 students. This will require us to use every available elementary space as a regular classroom, including innovation labs, libraries, music rooms and gymnasiums, as well as all school properties. This is why LOSD and our neighboring school districts had to cancel preschool and pre-k programs as we are obligated to focus all available resources to K-12 students. Adding additional temporary classrooms, commonly referred to as portables, is not an option. Not only is there a significant cost for each portable, the earliest portables could be available is seven to nine months from today, which is too late for reopening school next year.

ODE guidance states students need to be, to the extent possible, in consistent cohorts. Maintaining consistent cohorts is intended to help reduce potential spread, track contacts, minimize disruption in the event of a positive case, and manage cleaning and disinfecting of all touchable surfaces in between uses. Students will be spending their time in school with their cohorts inside their classroom and most instruction will be brought to them. For example, in all elementary schools, library staff will deliver books and food service staff will deliver most meals to the classrooms. Students will not be going into innovation labs or libraries, because these spaces will be used as regular classrooms and there are too many things for students to touch that cannot be cleaned in-between uses. Recesses will be organized to keep students with their cohorts. As our goal is to have all elementary students attend school every day, this guidance requires us to use all elementary schools, including Palisades and Uplands, for this unusual year. 

As we build the LOSD reopening plan, we will be providing updates, asking for feedback, and periodically sharing findings and insights. Additionally, we will resume near-weekly communications through a “Summer Current '' because, unlike years of the past, much information needs to be shared regularly this summer. You can expect to begin seeing the Summer Current today. All of the information will be posted on losdschools.org. Coming soon will be communication about plans for our middle and high schools, as well as the online school option and bus transportation. 

We in LOSD wish circumstances could be much different and appreciate your continued engagement during this pandemic.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lora de la Cruz, Superintendent, LOSD

Dear LOSD Teachers, Staff, Families and Community,

We are developing the LOSD plans for reopening schools in the fall, incorporating the complex guidance from Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA). We plan to provide an update each week and to ask for your feedback and ideas, via email and posted on the homepage of losdschools.org.

This week, we are sharing draft guiding principles for the reopening planning process and two options being considered for K-5 elementary schools, both which require your feedback by Monday, June 22 at 10 a.m. We will be sharing considerations for 6-8th and 9-12th graders in upcoming weekly messages.

Following are Guiding Principles for Reopening Plans

1. We will use the LOSD Equity lens in our decision making, with particular focus on ensuring that vulnerable learners receive instruction and support to minimize opportunity and achievement gaps.

2. We will provide educational programming that is rigorous and worthy of LOSD, the best school district in Oregon and among the best school districts in the nation, whether online or in-person.

3. We value the connection and relationship between teachers/staff and students and will strive for regular connection in each model - online, in-person/hybrid. This includes contact support for social emotional/mental health support.

4. We value having K-12 students (who are able to be) in school as much as possible.

5. We will implement preventative measures in schools and facilities by using OHA and CDC guidelines for health and safety.

6. Our teaching practices will be centered on tight-flexible expectations that are widely known and understood by staff, and provide necessary training and support for all staff to uphold these in order to have consistency across schools and classrooms.

7. All students have access to high-quality educational programming with differentiated support from staff to address unfinished learning, scaffolds, extensions and enrichment. 

8. We value the partnership of our community and will seek input from staff,  Education Associations and parents in the planning process. 

9. Should ODE and public health authorities require transition from in-person to at-home learning, our plan will transition while maintaining instructional standards.

10. Our plan will be logistically and financially feasible, while heading the needs of LOSD stakeholders.  

Please click here to complete a 1-minute survey to provide feedback on the guiding principles.

Having worked through multiple scenarios, LOSD is considering two of the most viable options for maximizing learning while maintaining ODE and OHA requirements for schools. An online option will also be provided for students who need to remain at home for the duration of the school year.

Both in-school elementary options include: 

• Lunch will be provided in the classroom to minimize co-mingling in the hallways 

• All elementary students and staff may engage in structured online instruction once a month, to improve and retain skills should all need to be online for a duration of time

• All elementary schools will be staffed with an administrator and front office staff, and will receive the same services

• Bus transportation will be provided to all schools, although families will be encouraged to drive if possible to help with physical distancing on buses

Elementary Option A: Daily School Attendance 

• Classes of 18-20 students (to enable physical distancing requirements) taught by a licensed teacher 

• Same 18-20 students remain together in one cohort, including recess and lunch

• All elementary students attend in-person school for five days a week of consecutive live, synchronous instruction

• K-4th grade students attend neighborhood elementary school

• 5th grade students attend Uplands (northside) or Palisades (southside)

Elementary Option B: Alternating School Attendance 

• Classes of 12-14 students (to enable physical distancing requirements) taught by a licensed teacher 

• Same 12-14 students remain together in one cohort, including recess and lunch

• All elementary students attend in-person school every other day, alternating between live, synchronous instruction and independent, asynchronous lessons

• K-5 students attend boundary neighborhood school

• Limited fee-based childcare may be available

Elementary teachers, staff and families, please click here to complete a 1-minute survey to provide feedback on the elementary school options for the 2020-2021 school year.

Thank you for your continued engagement as we make plans for reopening our schools in the fall.

Sincerely,